Mental health is an essential component of student success, and the Max Foundation is proud to support programs that provide crucial mental health services in schools. Through its generous funding, the Foundation is helping students thrive by offering access to on-site mental health professionals.
Rachel Bartz, LICSW, MSW, has been a trusted presence in the Warroad School District since 2022, offering counseling and support to students. This fall, in collaboration with LifeCare Medical Center, the program expanded with the addition of a skills based mental health worker who meets with students one-on-one, equipping them with practical tools and coping strategies identified by the mental health professionals.
Together, these services are empowering students with the skills they need to navigate challenges and succeed academically and emotionally.
LifeCare Medical Center, hosted a series of impactful presentations by mental health advocate Emma Benoit. These events, which took place in the communities of Roseau, Greenbush, Badger, and Grygla, underscored the importance of mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Benoit’s compelling personal story and advocacy for open conversations about mental well-being left a profound mark on students, educators, and community members alike. Paula Hedlund, who helped in the planning efforts, highlighted how Benoit’s presentation was supported by a network of local organizations, including The Max Foundation, public health agencies and schools, illustrating a united effort to bring this vital message to the rural communities.
Emma’s heartfelt narrative and interactive sessions captivated the audience, particularly students from grades 7-12. According to Hedlund, “Students were very moved by her presentation. Even typically disengaged groups were attentive and reflective.” The presentations also provided a safe space for students to seek help, with Sanford Crisis staff on-site to assist those who needed immediate support. Notably, school staff reported identifying students in need of assistance who might not have otherwise come forward, thanks to the awareness sparked by the event.
The community’s response to Benoit’s visit has reinforced the importance of ongoing dialogue around mental health. Hedlund emphasized the need for continuous education and accessible resources, including follow-up initiatives such as distributing mental health toolkits to schools. She also encouraged local organizations to utilize mini-grants offered by the Max Foundation to support similar initiatives.
The collaborative efforts between Life Care Medical Center, local sponsors and the Max Foundation is a testament to what can be achieved when communities come together to prioritize mental health, ensuring that no one feels alone in their struggles.
The Northwest Angle came alive during Labor Day weekend with the second annual Multi-Species Fishing Tournament, an event born from a casual conversation among friends and a desire to create something unique for the community. Spearheaded by Lisa Marvin and her collaborators, this tournament combines friendly competition and community spirit, showcasing the Angle’s renowned musky and walleye fishing.
The Max Foundation played a pivotal role in the tournament’s success, not only as a sponsor but also as a partner in fostering a sense of togetherness. Their contributions included custom bump boards and other essential materials, which made the event possible. While the tournament initially wasn’t designed as a fundraiser, it has evolved into a platform for supporting community causes, with donations pouring in from local resorts, fishing guides, and residents.
The event has also become a way to honor Max, whose love for the Northwest Angle and its traditions continues to inspire those involved. “It’s a celebration of the Angle,” said Marvin, “where locals and visitors come together for a fun, meaningful weekend before the summer ends.” As the tournament grows in popularity, organizers are mindful of maintaining its intimate and community-focused atmosphere while considering future expansions.
The collaboration between the Max Foundation and the community underscores the spirit of giving back, making the tournament more than just a fishing event—it’s a celebration of unity, and the joy of shared experiences.
The Max Foundation is thrilled to welcome Lisa Byfuglien as the new Project 11 Coordinator. With nearly 30 years of experience as a preschool educator as well as the founder of the Smart Start Learning Center, Lisa is no stranger to empowering young minds. Her rich background in education, coupled with her passion for mental health advocacy, makes her a natural fit for this role.
Lisa’s journey to the Max Foundation is rooted in a personal connection. Her family has long been close to the foundation’s founders, and after learning about Project 11—a mental health initiative designed for schools—she felt a strong pull to contribute. “Mental health is such a critical issue today,” Lisa shares. “It touches everyone, and I knew I wanted to help in some way.”
Project 11 equips educators with tools to address mental health challenges in their classrooms, offering accessible lesson plans and a supportive philosophy. Lisa was drawn to the initiative’s inclusive approach, emphasizing that mental health knows no boundaries—it impacts individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and circumstances.
In her new role, Lisa focuses on increasing awareness and adoption of Project 11 across Minnesota and North Dakota. Networking plays a central role in her strategy. From connecting with local educators to engaging state education boards, Lisa works to build bridges and spread the foundation’s mission. One of Lisa’s latest wins has been collaboration with the school district in Win-E-Mac, Minnesota, where she partnered with educators to introduce Project 11, drawing local media attention and community interest.
Lisa is also exploring a partnership with Smiles for Jake, a mental health organization in the Brainerd Lakes area. This partnership aims to merge efforts and expand Project 11’s reach. “Working together is key,” Lisa explains. “When communities come together to prioritize mental health, the possibilities are endless.”
Despite her excitement, Lisa acknowledges the challenges ahead. Time management is a hurdle as she balances outreach efforts with the busy schedules of communicating with educators. Streamlining the communication process is one of the challenges.
Finding the time in educators’ already busy schedules is another hurdle she is striving to overcome. She’s exploring innovative ways to make the program even more accessible, such as advocating for continuing education credits for teachers who participate in Project 11 training.
Closing the gaps will help Project 11 effectively make the process easier to implement within the school systems.
Her long-term vision includes taking Project 11 beyond state lines. During an upcoming visit to Montana, Lisa plans to introduce the program to a charter school founded by her cousin, underscoring the initiative’s potential for national impact.
“Mental health affects everyone,” Lisa emphasizes. “If we can help schools create supportive environments for their students, we’re doing something incredibly valuable.”
With Lisa Byfuglien at the helm, Project 11 is set to make a lasting impact on student mental health. Through her dedication and the Max Foundation’s vision, the initiative is poised to transform classrooms into spaces where every student can thrive emotionally and academically.
Stay connected with the Max Foundation to follow Lisa’s progress and learn how Project 11 is making a difference in schools near you.
In the dynamic realm of high school sports, a beacon of mental health support has emerged—The Coaches Care Project. This transformative initiative, a brainchild of the Max Foundation and Tim Denney, in partnership with the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL), resonates with a profound dedication to fostering resilience and support among student-athletes.
The genesis of the Coaches Care project can be traced back to the Max Foundation’s visionary commitment to equipping coaches with the tools to address the mental health needs of their athletes. In an interview, Tim Denney, a pivotal figure in this initiative, revealed that the initial vision modestly focused on Roseau county schools. However, through collaborative efforts with Charlie Campbell of MSHSL, the project evolved into a statewide undertaking. The aim was clear: create a self-operated training accessible on the website, a comprehensive guide covering warning signs and response strategies.
Charlie Campbell, the Associate Director at MSHSL, brought a fresh perspective when he joined in 2021, becoming an instrumental force in shaping the league’s education program. Campbell emphasized, “We heard loud and clear that mental health education was important, and the league made a full commitment to addressing the gap. We have a mission to spread knowledge about mental health and how to recognize when somebody’s in crisis and how to respond when somebody needs help.” This alignment of purpose marked the birth of a meaningful relationship between MSHSL and the Max Foundation, leading to the creation of an extensive online training program. This program covers topics ranging from adverse childhood experiences to recognizing warning signs of mental health difficulties and trauma impacts. MSHSL’s commitment to producing high-quality online training has been pivotal in the program’s success.
Tim Denney, the architect of the Coaches Care program and a mental health expert, underwrote four modules for MSHSL. The initial focus on suicide prevention garnered significant outreach, with around 12,000 views. This success spurred the development of additional modules covering adverse childhood experiences and the recognition of warning signs of common mental health difficulties. These modules are now mandatory for all Minnesota State High School League coaches.
Measuring the success of the Coaches Care project goes beyond concrete data on lives saved—it is about responsiveness. Member schools, seeking resources, found a lifeline in these modules. Charlie Campbell of MSHSL recognizes the power of community stories, such as the Max Foundation’s, that transform tragedy into a catalyst for change.
As the Coaches Care project looks towards the future, Denney and Campbell envision the expansion of more modules, regional in-person training opportunities, and increased support for adults directly working with students. The program’s success hinges on reaching every corner of Minnesota, with an anticipated 16,000 individuals completing the training by year-end.
The Coaches Care project transcends being a mere training program; it is a movement challenging the stigma surrounding mental health. The Max Foundation envisions a future where mental health education is as normalized as any other coaching aspect. These modules not only impart essential skills but also cultivate a culture where conversations about mental health are embraced.
In a recent interview Denney commented that, the Coaches Care Project is more than a step towards a healthier, more supportive high school sports culture. It is testament to the power of collaboration, community and the belief that every coach can be a beacon of support for the next generation of student-athletes. In a interview with Campbell he agrees with Denney that we have developed a message with one of hope, empowerment, and the transformative impact of education. We have also created an opportunity with these modules to reach beyond just coaches.
Together, let us play our part in championing mental well-being for the next generation.
Project 11 was inspired and created in honor of #11, Rick Rypien, former player of the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose. Suzi Friesen, Director of Educational Programs for the True North Youth Foundation (TNYF) in Manitoba, met Conway and the Marvin family in early 2019. She was inspired by how the family had such clarity about wanting to do something in Max’s honor. With the support of the Max Foundation, Suzi, brought the Project 11 curriculum into the Warroad Public Schools. While many schools opt for a one-off session, Warroad Schools invested in the 15-week program, first for the elementary levels, and later in a program for high school students.
The curriculum’s aim is to remove barriers and normalize the conversation regarding mental health. It teaches life skills that help students learn to self-reflect, become more self-aware, express how they’re feeling, and develop positive coping strategies. When the entire student body is working on practicing resiliency and building these skills, it lets students individually know they are not alone. Feeling a sense of community and belonging helps students feel less stuck and more empowered.
3 years later mental health conversations are now happening with almost 4,000 school kids as we have helped launch Project 11 in 5 schools and 2 more that will be implemented in the near future. Schools that are using Project 11 now; Warroad, Roseau, Greenbush/Middle River, Luverne, Stephen/Argyle. Schools ready to add Project 11 curriculum are Shelly/Climax and Ellsworth.
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive as students relay back to teachers and Project 11 staff how they’ve incorporated the lessons learned into real life.
In 2021, the Max Foundation solidified a partnership with Tim Denney of Level 5 Services. Based out of Crookston, Minnesota, Tim is a premium provider of training, facilitation, and consultation services in the upper Midwest region. The Max Foundation and its mission was a perfect fit with Tim’s passion for wellbeing for everybody, suicide prevention, connecting people with services, and trying to change the trajectory of people’s lives when they’re really struggling.
This year’s project was to work on brand marketing efforts and expanding to offer several Schools in northern Minnesota to the Coaches Care Project Clinics. Many student athletes are struggling with their mental health today. This impacts not only their athletic performance but also their school performance. The pressure they face to excel at their sport and their athletics can be significant and sometimes overwhelming.
Tim Denney went to Grygla, Badger, and Roseau schools this fall to offer coaches the tools they need so they can prepare to handle the student/athletes and the challenges they face in todays demanding world.
The clinics were a huge success and we plan to continue our efforts in reaching as many schools as possible in 2023.
David and Kallie Marvin, the parents of Max Marvin, have graciously launched the Maximize Your Donation Project and are matching donations up to $100,000. The campaign launched on October 28th and as of November 25th, we have reached 30% of our goal. The campaign runs through December 31st.
The Marvins have been wanting to do this for a long time and found themselves in a position to finally be able to donate this amount in hopes of creating awareness for the Max Foundation and inspiring others to help the Foundation grow. ”Once someone has been touched by the loss of suicide directly, it kind of means something different. And unfortunately it’s happening to more and more people.”
One of the successful initiatives supported by the Max Foundation is Project 11, a mental health awareness curriculum for youth. “Project 11 has 5 schools joining this year and 2 more on the list for the upcoming year. Once educators find out how simple and complete it is to implement into their schools, we really feel like it’s going to take off,” David said of the program.” Our friends in Winnipeg with the True North Foundation have done such a tremendous job in designing and installing it. The Max Foundation donates all the books and program materials for mental wellness to each school that joins Project 11. With the growing expansion of Project 11 throughout Minnesota the biggest challenge for the Max Foundation is to raise enough funds to keep this fantastic programming free of charge to all schools that come on board.”
Kallie added, “Schools are starting to realize that there needs to be some type of program in place to help student wellness coordinators facilitate and help students. This is what Project 11 is, and when our small schools in the northern area realize the ease of it and how we are willing to help with it, excitement shows. We want to be ready and don’t want to tell anyone no.”
“The Max Foundation is only 3 years old and evolving. We’re not going to limit it and are excited to see where it will go in another 3 years,” David said. “We are going to work really hard to reach as many people as we can. When you do that, more people step up and realize the good we are doing. There are a lot of people out there in a position to help from something as small as the lemonade stand our neighbors did on 4th of July, to very, very generous checks people have made out to the foundation. It all matters.”
Kallie and David appreciate everything that everyone has done for the Max Foundation. The Maximize Your Donation Project is their way of saying thank you and continuing to help as many people as they can. “This is dear to our hearts and this is our focus. We hope our gift inspires others to get behind the Max Foundation.”
In 2021, the Max Foundation solidified a partnership with Tim Denney of Level 5 Services. Based out of Crookston, Minnesota, Tim is a premium provider of training, facilitation, and consultation services in the upper Midwest region. The Max Foundation and its mission was a perfect fit with Tim’s passion for wellbeing for everybody, suicide prevention, connecting people with services, and trying to change the trajectory of people’s lives when they’re really struggling. The main project our team focused on this year was a Coaches Clinic in Warroad and Roseau aimed to empower one of the most influential groups of adults in a community – coaches.
Having coached at the high school level, Tim understands well the opportunity coaches have to support youth. Coaches have a unique role in being able to recognize and assist students when they’re struggling because they see them so often and for such long periods of time. Endless hours in the coaching-athletic-participation relationship are spent solving the problems of real life. In that relationship, there exists a model of real life that is pressurized and very compact, yet, shows coaches how kids live their lives, how they handle stress, how they handle relationships with other people, and how they handle difficulty.
Unfortunately, because coaches – many who are volunteers – haven’t seen themselves as being in a key role for cultivating good mental health and wellbeing, this unique opportunity to influence kids has never really been leveraged. But the Max Foundation is working to change that.
During the Coaches Clinic in Warroad, Tim worked to build awareness around “upstream suicide prevention.” This prevention involves building a culture that reduces isolation for all students, improves the wellbeing – both emotional and physical – of all students, and provides a more pro social context in which students can live and thrive. “What we’re trying to address are the factors that might bring students to the point of despair,” Tim said, “Isolation, trauma history, unmet expectations in students’ lives. A big one that we don’t think about is anxiety. Many people struggle with that. And, obviously, depression.”
The training also focused on identifying student concerns and needs sooner, how to help those students get to effective services faster, and how to build a more supportive network. Nearly 50 participants, both high school staff and volunteer walk-on coaches were trained – a good number for communities the size of Warroad and Roseau.
While one successful 2-hour session is a good opening shot, Tim underscored the importance of a long-term game strategy to reinforce the skills learned in the clinics and to help coaches troubleshoot over time by sharpening these skills and building better connections to the network of mental health services available to students.
Tim praised the Max Foundation, saying, “One of the things that I really appreciated was how the foundation is focusing on Warroad and Roseau as their first priority. Sometimes as soon as we get on something like this we go big, but we can make a bigger difference sometimes if we stay focused on our primary mission.”
Coupled with the success of the first Coaches Clinic and with the above objective in mind, the Max Foundation and Tim are at work building a brand and marketing strategy to make the Coaches Clinics available for other communities.
Thanks to these pioneering efforts and commitment to breaking down the barriers around mental health, the work the foundation is doing in communities is fast becoming a model for the rest of the region. In Tim’s words, “I wouldn’t be surprised if by the end of 2022 we see a number of community-based initiatives that begin to take on mental health, overall wellbeing, suicide prevention, and access to care. It’s really exciting.”
Suzi Friesen, Director of Educational Programs for the True North Youth Foundation (TNYF) in Manitoba, facilitates the development of educational programs, including Project 11. Project 11 was inspired and created in honor of #11, Rick Rypien, former player of the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose. Suzi met Conway and the Marvin family in early 2019. She was inspired by how the family had such clarity about wanting to do something in Max’s honor. Their support and love for each other and the desire to do something positive that would empower other kids and other families really spoke to her. “There’s a warm homelike feeling that people really care,” Suzi said, of the Max Foundation and its members. She saw a lot of parallels between the values and goals of her work with Project 11, making the decision to partner an easy one.
In September 2019, with the support of the Max Foundation, Suzi brought the Project 11 curriculum into the Warroad Public Schools. While many schools opt for a one-off session, Warroad Schools invested in the 15-week program, first for the elementary levels, and later in a program for high school students.
“Everyone was on board,” Suzi, commented when describing the commitment of Warroad school administration and staff. “Staff didn’t see it as an extra but essential for students to continue to learn and grow. They were really excited about it and wanted to do it. It was nice to have such a good community feel.” By that Christmas, all the picture books for the curriculum had been donated by the Max Foundation, something considered unusual, Friesen noted, because schools are often limited by budget constraints.
The curriculum’s aim is to remove barriers and normalize the conversation regarding mental health. It teaches life skills that help students learn to self-reflect, become more self-aware, express how they’re feeling, and develop positive coping strategies. When the entire student body is working on practicing resiliency and building these skills, it lets students individually know they are not alone. Feeling a sense of community and belonging helps students feel less stuck and more empowered.
Three years later, Warroad continues to be “all in” with the Max Foundation’s ongoing support for Project 11. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive as students relay back to teachers and Project 11 staff how they’ve incorporated the lessons learned into real life.
Suzi said, “The Max Foundation’s mission to want to make change – and important change – is just going to have such a positive effect not only on their community in these few years but in years to come. These students are going to be practicing these important life skills that many of us wish we had learned or known about when we were younger and it’s going to have a long-term impact.”
The work done in Warroad has inspired other communities, including Roseau, Laverne and places across Canada, to reach out to the Max Foundation and inquire about how best to incorporate Project 11’s programs into their own programs and schools.
Roseau’s School Superintendent Tom Jerome commented “It’s important that we acknowledge when we’re struggling. It’s important to learn how we can help each other. And when you go through these events and you lose a loved one, a staff member, or a family member, that leaves a mark on a person or a family, on a school that never goes away. And if there’s anything we can do to support any one of our kids, any one of our staff members, anybody in our community, we need to do that. And I think that the Max Foundation and all others involved has been a nudge, and a push to do something about it, to talk about this, because there are no do overs. I really believe that the Max Foundation has allowed kids to recognize and acknowledge mental health issues, has allowed adults to have conversations not in hushed corners or behind closed doors, but out in the open.”
Craig Oftedahl, Superintendent for the Laverne School District loves that the curriculum is a great tool box that is so easy for the staff to use. “I think the need is going to continue to escalate, and having the program in place and having resources available becomes that much more important. I don’t know that anybody has all the answers, but you can talk through it and work through it and figure it out, or at least make a concerted effort to go in the right direction.”
Warroad Elementary Principal, Brita Comstock, and Kendra Marvin, MS, BCBA, Behavior Specialist, agree that the curriculum is being well received by the teachers and love that you open it up and just start teaching. Kendra continued, “We call it giving our teachers a toolbox, and equipping our teachers with tools so that they can help kids navigate through these big emotions and through trauma and through things from the school perspective. And I think we’ve seen success with the 15 week program too.”
“We want our students to know and understand that being a part of the school means that you are a part of the greater community and the world at large.”
The MAX Foundation is excited to welcome Paula Hedlund to the foundation’s Board of Directors. Paula is the Wellness Coordinator at LifeCare Medical Center and she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our board. Paula’s expertise is the connection between healthcare and community which is ideal for what we are all trying to accomplish.
Stronger together! We all know and appreciate the competitive spirit that has been cultivated in the state of Minnesota through hockey. The Max Foundation has been asked to share our message with some of our greatest competitors in the rink.
A big thank you to the following groups for inviting us into their programs to share our message: Roseau Boys Hockey team, East Grand Forks Boys Hockey team and the Grand Forks Knight’s Girls Hockey team, Concordia College Men’s and Women’s Hockey teams, ReHab Authority 5K run in Thief River Falls, Be The Voice event in Thief River Falls for Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention. Together we can make a difference!!
The Max foundation joined the Warroad elementary school to celebrate Dr Suess’s Birthday and support the Read Across America program. The Max foundation donated books that will be used in the classroom and the library. The books that have been donated are entwined with the Project 11 program that the school has embraced and it is our hope that the donated books will help keep the conversation going on the seriousness of mental health.
The Max Foundation establishes a “campership” fund with Lake Trails Camp on Lake of the Woods. Since the 1950’s Lake Trails Camp has been offering teenage kids the opportunity to experience the great outdoors in its natural state and more importantly their program allows teens to unplug from the busyness of today’s world and reconnect with their inner self and learn how to build relationships with others. Max cherished his time on the water and specifically Lake of the Woods and we are excited to support the great program that Lake Trails offers today’s kids.
The Max Foundation along with the Warroad and Roseau Girls high school hockey teams “hosted” a foundation awareness night at the Gardens Arena in Warroad. We are very proud of the rivalry between these hockey programs but are even prouder that our programs are able to unite in an effort to end the stigma that surrounds mental health….together we are stronger and can make a difference. A big thank you to the hundreds of fans that came to the Gardens Arena to learn more about the Max Foundation, participate in our fundraisers and enjoy a great girls hockey game!
The first project the Max Foundation will undertake is partnering with Project 11. Warroad Public Schools will be the first school outside of Manitoba fortunate enough to receive training and curriculum access to Project 11 materials. With the focus on mental wellness, Project 11 lessons will be integrated into our K-6th grade morning meeting times. During morning meeting our elementary teachers focus on social-emotional learning. Bringing Project 11 curriculum into Warroad Schools will allow us to enhance our focus on mental wellness, continue the important work of building student/teacher relationships, and create additional opportunities to develop coping skills in students.
To find out more about Project 11 visit: www.projecteleven.ca
The following is information directly from their website:
Project 11 is inspired and created in honor of #11, Rick Rypien, former player of the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose. It is available to support students in Kindergarten to grade 4 (English or French) and in grades 5 to 8 (English) with virtual tutorials educating students about Mental Wellness.
Project 11 is an engaging cross-curricular proactive program targeting Manitoba’s English Language Arts and Health Education outcomes. Weekly lessons and daily activities have been designed to help support students and teachers in bringing mental health awareness, along with positive coping skills into their lives.
In addition to the Mental Wellness lessons, there are over 160 daily activities promoting healthy lifestyle practices that teachers can access and incorporate into their class:
- Yoga
- Indigenous Dancing
- Fun with Fitness
- Art Energy
- Music and Rhythm
- Fun with Food
- Relaxation Techniques
- Laughing Yoga
- Mindful Moments
Lesson Plan Themes:
K to Grade 4: Self-Awareness, Friendship, & Character Development
Grade 5: Friendship, Communication, & Self-Reflection
Grade 6: Stress, Communication, & Self-Reflection
Grade 7: Self-Awareness, Communication, & Relationships
Grade 8: Self-Awareness, Relationships, & Community
PROJECT 11 uses concepts such as practicing focusing the mind, increasing self-awareness of feelings and strengths, and building positive relationships. By concentrating on these areas, it is our goal for students to:
- Build a sense of their own team as a class
- Increase their ability to connect with one another
- Increase self-awareness of social, emotional and physical wellness
- Create a stage of empathy
- Enhance their academic performance
